E/CN.4/1993/62 page 59 (b) Sheikh Ali al-Ba’aj, a former representative of Sayyid Al-Khoei in the governorate of Qadisiya, who is currently living at Najaf. 13. The allegations in the note of the Special Rapporteur regarding the arrest of a number of clergymen of various nationalities are groundless. None of the persons mentioned has been arrested, executed or detained. We have no information on them, the likelihood being that they left the country during the disturbances. 14. As for the following accusations: (a) The hanging of Sheikh al-Ahmadi, aged 80, in the governorate of Najaf and the prevention of his burial; (b) The execution of the son, brothers and nephews of Sayyid Muhammad Ridha al-Hakim; (c) The arrest of Sayyid Murtadha Ali al-Hakim, aged 45, together with his sons, Hussein, aged 22, and Ali, aged 25, on 25 March 1991; (d) The detention of Sayyid Ala’ al-Din Bahrul Uloom, aged 60, Sayyid Ali Ala’ al-Din Bahrul Uloom, aged 27, and Sayyid Muhammad Sadiq Musa Bahrul Uloom, aged 40; (e) The arrest of Ayatollah Sadiq Qazwini, a prominent religious leader from Karbala, aged 91, in April 1980, the burning of his library and the looting and destruction of his home; they are untrue, as none of those mentioned has been arrested, executed or detained." 41. In a communication sent on 12 November 1992 addressed to the Government of Iraq, the following information was transmitted by the Special Rapporteur as follows: "According to the information received, the persecution of the Shia Muslim community of Iraq, which constitutes approximately 60 per cent of the country’s population, and the further destruction of its religious and cultural heritage has continued during the current reporting period. Discrimination against Shias is said to have increased since the uprising in March 1991 and it has been reported that the local population of the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf are often too frightened to even visit the shrines located there. Religious life in general is said to have been severely restricted and the new legislation passed by the authorities has conferred additional powers on the Ministry of Religious Affairs which authorizes it to take over the administration of Shia religious places, appoint prayer leaders and dictate the contents of prayer sermons. It has been reported that mourning has not been allowed during the traditional month of Moharam and that anyone who transgressed this ban was arrested. It has been alleged that the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, which are said to be under tight military control, were sealed off from the rest of the country for two days before the Ashura, when Shias mourn the death of the Imam Hussein. An increased military presence in the area with roadblocks and the conducting of personal searches was reported at the time.